Marketing a small business in a recession

It may seem that every time you switch on the TV, open a paper, or click on the web, it is is all doom and gloom. But that doesn’t mean that it’s not a great time to be running your own business and doing what you love. So for everyone out there, who believes in having a half full, rather than half empty glass… here’s some top small business marketing and PR tips for you.

Know who you’re talking to
You have a great product or service, but who actually wants or needs it? And who’s going to influence their buying decisions? If you don’t know who you want to be talking to, how on earth are you going to know how to communicate with them? So, if you need help with understanding who you need to be targeting, Promotr Starter could be just what you need.

Let people know why they should come to you
If your products or services are cheaper than everyone else, or if you can provide a service more quickly, or to a better quality than your rivals, or offer a more flexible service, now is the time to shout about it.

Make sure everyone knows what makes you stand out from the crowd, by making this the main focus of your marketing. And if you need help with understanding how you identify your key ‘selling points’ and develop a great brand then Promotr Starter and Promotr TopBrand could be just what you need.

Offer discounts or develop special offers
If you have stock that you need to move and/or business is slow, consider offering a discount or devising a promotion. Encourage your customers to act now by putting a time limit on your offer and/or or limit the offer to the first say 50 orders. If you need help with putting together a practical plan of PR opportunities, then Promotr Starter could be just what you need.

Using PR rather than advertising
This is a great way to promote your business. ‘Editorial’ copy in publications and online media, rather than paid for advertising, is a much more credible way of promoting your business and building your reputation. Think about what might be of interest to your customers and what sort of publications/online media they read and develop your story. For example, if you run a gardening service might offer a local publication a feature on ‘preparing your garden for winter’ in the autumn, or if you run a bar or restaurant, see if you can get a review in a leisure guide. Need ongoing help with media and PR? Then Promotr ToyBox could be just what you need.

Club together
Join with other companies offering complimentary services and think about holding an open day locally or organising a launch or event. If you need help to boost your media coverage, then Promotr LaunchPad could be just what you need.

Help people find you… online
How do you find a business… search online? So does everyone else! A great online presence is essential if you are going to win business. Even if you are not top of the search engine rankings and potential customers know of you, they will still go online to see who you are and what you are about. Along with a great website, social and online marketing is a cost effective way to help you reach a wide audience and lots of potential customers. Twitter, blogs, joining discussion forums, and optimising your website content will help ensure the right people can find you easily. For help building your online presence, Promotr Web could be for you.

Find out more by calling 020 8974 7241 or filling in our Tell me more form.